Centene said the acquisition will bolster its scale and capabilities while adding a Medicaid-focused provider group to its existing in-home primary care and correctional care assets. It will also provide a platform for expansion of the model across Florida and other states.

"The addition of CMG will provide Centene with a differentiated care delivery asset that shares our focus and commitment to government-sponsored programmes and creates a foundation for future growth," said Michael Neidorff, chairman and CEO of Centene.

"CMG's unique clinical care model, encompassing primary care, access to certain specialty services and a suite of social and other support services is delivering better health outcomes at lower costs, and is clearly aligned with Centene's purpose of transforming the health of the community, one person at a time."

Luis Izquierdo, president and CEO of CMG, said: "We currently partner with Centene and most leading health plans to provide primary and specialty care to thousands of their members in the South Florida region. Benefiting from Centene's scale, we look forward to expanding our geographic footprint while continuously improving outcomes and increasing value by incrementally deploying primary care and social services to the members who need them most."